Donate a pair of new shoes to empower women in need
Strauss with Sinoville SAPS launched this initiative in the hopes of gifting a woman in need with a brand new pair of shoes that will boost her confidence and hopefully inspire a well-deserved change.
The 16 Days of Activism against Woman and Child Abuse will be kicking off on 25 November and will run until 10 December 2020. This year domestic abuse in general is a topic not many can refrain from, as the number of victims increased due to lockdown and national financial difficulty.
Colleen Strauss from Sinoville Crisis centre with Sinoville SAPS, aim to change that in the coming year.
“The theme for this year’s campaign is #NoExcuse. We understand and acknowledge that many women and children stay in abusive relationships for shelter, financial dependency, food, and many other reasons. But this year we’re saying, there is no excuse to treat people like they’re nothing. There is no excuse to abuse either verbally, emotionally, physically or in any other shape or form. There is no excuse not to help, to lend a helping hand or not to make these people’s voices heard,” Strauss said.
The #NoExcuse shoe project was born from this idea.
Strauss with the Sinoville SAPS launched this initiative in the hopes of gifting a woman in need with a brand new pair of shoes that will boost her confidence and hopefully inspire a well-deserved change.
“Nice shoes is something that every woman appreciates, no matter her economical background or what damage has been inflicted upon her. We want to give that woman a pair of shoes that might just assist her in paving her way into a better existence,” Strauss explained.
“Domestic violence is violence committed by someone in the victim’s domestic circle. This includes partners, ex-partners, immediate family members, other relatives and family friends. The term ‘domestic violence’ is used when there is a close relationship between the offender and the victim.
“Not every man is an abuser, but every man needs to take a stand against abuse in our communities.”
Strauss said there are different forms of abuse she deals with on a daily basis:
– Physical abuse.
– Sexual abuse (rape, molestation, child pornography).
– Neglect (physical neglect, educational neglect).
– Emotional abuse (verbal, mental or psychologic).
To take part in the #No Excuse shoe project, take a brand new pair of shoes to the Sinoville SAPS station before 10 December and tie a message to the shoes for the woman who will wear them.
“The shoes and messages of empowerment will be tied to a fence the SAPS Sinoville was kind enough to erect, with a lock symbolling the strength that is required by the mothers, wives, sisters, cousins and daughters who suffer at the hands of others in Pretoria.”
“Gender based violence (GBV) does not discriminate. Any person of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender can be a victim or perpetrator of GBV, we’re here to stop that,” Strauss concludes.
If you would like more information from the Sinoville Crisis centre and also the #NoExcuse shoe project, go to www.facebook.com/SinovilleKrisis
Alternatively contact the centre on 064-837-8694.
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